Sadly the latest Covid lockdowns have impacted almost 40% of patrons and many performers such that Leeton Shire Council has no option but to cancel the Australian Art Deco Festival 2021. Postponing is not an option as many performers are committed elsewhere in the coming months. But, for locals and those who can still travel, all is not lost!
Riverina residents, or those able to travel freely from further afield, will still have the option of attending three sold out events next weekend (2-4 July) under the banner of “Riverina Art Deco Revelry”, specifically the Highrollers at the Hydro, Bloodshed at the Banquet and the Yanco Ag Institute High Tea.
The fourth big drawcard is, of course, the internationally renowned Ms Fisher’s Crypt of Tears Exhibition at the Leeton Museum and Art Gallery, which opens to the public on Friday 2 July 2021. This impressive costume exhibition with behind the scenes details from the Crypt of Tears film, together with 1920’s music and some good coffee, will make for a fabulous day out. This is a ticketed event, with tickets available at the door ($25 per adult, $20 for seniors, $5 per school child or $50 per family of 2 adults and 2 children). Dine and discover vouchers can be used on the day. LMAG can host 90 patrons at any one time under the latest Covid-19 regulations.
Riverina Art Deco Revelry will only include the four events listed above.
While the Billy Cart Derby will not proceed, anyone who has made a cart, or has one in storage from 2019, is invited to bring it to the Museum to be put on display in the garden area for the duration of the Riverina Art Deco Revelry weekend.
Sues Vos, Manager Cultural Services and Creative Director for the Australian Art Deco Festival, said that a high proportion of attendees to the three sold out events were locals from the Riverina who are not caught up in the Greater Sydney and surrounds lock downs. With this information, the team considered what options could continue to be safely delivered for locals from the Riverina.
“We could hear the groans of disappointment from many Leeton locals and Leeton businesses when they learnt that running the Australian Art Deco Festival was in doubt due to recent Covid-19 impacts on patrons and performers from Greater Sydney and surrounds. With the good cooperation of local venue managers and those remaining performers who are still able to travel from Brisbane and Auckland where they were on tour, we have decided to pivot from a full scale Australian Art Deco Festival to a Riverina Regional Art Deco Revelry weekend instead”, said Ms Vos.
Australian Art Deco Festival ticket holders will be contacted by organisers on Monday 28 June 2021 and Tuesday 29 June to arrange their reimbursements or transfers to the Riverina Revelry options available to them, where relevant.
Mayor Maytom is still smiling despite the Covid induced changes to what was to be Leeton’s premier tourism event for the year.
“Cancelling the Australian Art Deco Festival in Leeton was not an easy decision but I am delighted we can offer a Plan B. Provided the Covid situation remains confined to the cities, with the right Covid-Safety plans and everyone doing the right thing by following the latest restrictions in full, Council is confident that a safe and enjoyable Riverina Art Deco Revelry event can be delivered. There will be lots of fun and entertainment for our regional communities and, very importantly, by supporting Riverina Art Deco Revelry we will be providing an economic boost to our local businesses who really deserve it after a challenging few years”, said Mayor Paul Maytom.
